About the Kenauk Institute

The Kenauk Institute is a nonprofit charitable organization on the property of Kenauk in Montebello, Quebec, Canada. Kenauk is one of the largest private nature reserves in North America encompassing 65,000 acres of forest and more than 60 lakes.

The mission of The Kenauk Institute is to support, coordinate and supervise scientific research, involve local schools in environmental education, and connect Kenauk with the broader community. The vision is to establish a baseline inventory of biodiversity and monitor the property with a 100 year time horizon. With time, Kenauk will become a laboratory for monitoring climate change and human impacts.

Thanks to a partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and a dedicated team of biologists, we hope to accomplish the permanent protection of North America’s largest private nature reserve.

Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better
– Albert Einstein

 

Carleton Trout Catch-and-Release Project

The FECP Lab is committed to ensuring that recreational fisheries are sustainable by improving the science and practice of catch-and-release.

Start Exploring

Carleton Trout Catch-and-Release Project

The FECP Lab is committed to ensuring that recreational fisheries are sustainable by improving the science and practice of catch-and-release.

Start Exploring

McGill Black Maple Project

Biodiversity conservation depends on deep knowledge about the smaller and hyper-diverse animals in the world, including insects and spiders.

Start Exploring

McGill Black Maple Project

Biodiversity conservation depends on deep knowledge about the smaller and hyper-diverse animals in the world, including insects and spiders.

Start Exploring

Papineau Lake Loon Nesting Project

While loon populations are currently stable, a number of threats loom, including human encroachment and pollution.

Start Exploring

Papineau Lake Loon Nesting Project

While loon populations are currently stable, a number of threats loom, including human encroachment and pollution.

Start Exploring

NCC Biodiversity Inventory

In 2014, NCC began a series of inventories on the property of Kenauk with the goal of documenting it’s biodiversity to exemplify its value.

Start Exploring

NCC Biodiversity Inventory

In 2014, NCC began a series of inventories on the property of Kenauk with the goal of documenting it’s biodiversity to exemplify its value.

Start Exploring

Angling and Bass Reproduction Project

Is angling for nesting bass (even catch-and-release) detrimental to their reproductive success and consequently to population level recruitment?

Start Exploring

Angling and Bass Reproduction Project

Is angling for nesting bass (even catch-and-release) detrimental to their reproductive success and consequently to population level recruitment?

Start Exploring

CERFO Integrated Resource Management

Zoning Kenauk on a fine scale is foreseen to define the management of the various resources for the territory.

Start Exploring

CERFO Integrated Resource Management

Zoning Kenauk on a fine scale is foreseen to define the management of the various resources for the territory.

Start Exploring

CERFO Vernal Pool Mapping Project

Vernal pools are specialized wildlife habitats but because they are small in size and temporary, they are difficult to identify and therefore protect.

Start Exploring

CERFO Vernal Pool Mapping Project

Vernal pools are specialized wildlife habitats but because they are small in size and temporary, they are difficult to identify and therefore protect.

Start Exploring

Pollinator Inventory Project

The goal of this project was to determine if forestry management practices impact pollinators and how they interact with plants.

Start Exploring

Pollinator Inventory Project

The goal of this project was to determine if forestry management practices impact pollinators and how they interact with plants.

Start Exploring

Coyote Diet Comparison Project

The goal of this project is to determine the feeding habits of coyotes through fecal DNA metabarcoding analyses.

Start Exploring

Coyote Diet Comparison Project

The goal of this project is to determine the feeding habits of coyotes through fecal DNA metabarcoding analyses.

Start Exploring

Papineau Weir Monitoring Project

In 2015 the Papineau lake dam was converted into a weir to improve fish access and aquatic habitats between the lake and the Kinonge River.

Start Exploring

Papineau Weir Monitoring Project

In 2015 the Papineau lake dam was converted into a weir to improve fish access and aquatic habitats between the lake and the Kinonge River.

Start Exploring

Water Quality Monitoring

The goal of this project is to continue the long term monitoring of water quality in Papineau Lake.

Start Exploring

Water Quality Monitoring

The goal of this project is to continue the long term monitoring of water quality in Papineau Lake.

Start Exploring

Archaeology and Cultural Resources

This research project will identify and document Kenauk’s cultural resources as well as classify geological sites of interest for exploration.

Start Exploring

Archaeology and Cultural Resources

This research project will identify and document Kenauk’s cultural resources as well as classify geological sites of interest for exploration.

Start Exploring

Arthropod Biodiversity Project

Biodiversity is central to the resilience and health of our ecosystems, especially today as we face unprecedented environmental challenges.

Start Exploring

Arthropod Biodiversity Project

Biodiversity is central to the resilience and health of our ecosystems, especially today as we face unprecedented environmental challenges.

Start Exploring

Forest Resilience Project

Assessing the best management strategies in relation to increasing the overall resilience of forests to invasive pests, disease and climate change.

Start Exploring

Forest Resilience Project

Assessing the best management strategies in relation to increasing the overall resilience of forests to invasive pests, disease and climate change.

Start Exploring

Success of Non-Indigenous Slugs

The goal of this project is to determine the ecological factors that facilitate the successful invasion of non-indigenous slugs.

Start Exploring

Success of Non-Indigenous Slugs

The goal of this project is to determine the ecological factors that facilitate the successful invasion of non-indigenous slugs.

Start Exploring

Papineau Lake Hydrology Project

The goal of this project is to understand the hydrologic dynamics of Papineau Lake and how those dynamics are related to shoreline wetlands.

Start Exploring

Papineau Lake Hydrology Project

The goal of this project is to understand the hydrologic dynamics of Papineau Lake and how those dynamics are related to shoreline wetlands.

Start Exploring

Tree Growth and Productivity Project

The goal of this project is to assess the effects of different forestry management techniques on forest productivity and resilience.

Start Exploring

Tree Growth and Productivity Project

The goal of this project is to assess the effects of different forestry management techniques on forest productivity and resilience.

Start Exploring

Vernal Pool Hydrology and Herpetology

Despite their ecological importance, the effects of forestry on vernal pool hydrology and herpetofauna are unknown.

Start Exploring

Vernal Pool Hydrology and Herpetology

Despite their ecological importance, the effects of forestry on vernal pool hydrology and herpetofauna are unknown.

Start Exploring

Recreational Fisheries on Papineau Lake

The goal of this project is to understand the spatial ecology, population dynamics and fishery for lake trout and black bass in Papineau Lake.

Start Exploring

Recreational Fisheries on Papineau Lake

The goal of this project is to understand the spatial ecology, population dynamics and fishery for lake trout and black bass in Papineau Lake.

Start Exploring

Integrated Forestry Planning Project

This project will include the validation of an annual forest planning approach which incorporates airborne LiDAR technology.

Start Exploring

Integrated Forestry Planning Project

This project will include the validation of an annual forest planning approach which incorporates airborne LiDAR technology.

Start Exploring

Crayfish Inventory Project

Crayfish play important roles in freshwater systems, including those of ecosystem engineers and bio-indicators of water quality and habitat.

Start Exploring

Crayfish Inventory Project

Crayfish play important roles in freshwater systems, including those of ecosystem engineers and bio-indicators of water quality and habitat.

Start Exploring

Winter Ticks and Moose Ecology

A telemetry tracking and moose health data collection program across the province, with a specific focus on calves and moose recruitment.

Start Exploring

Winter Ticks and Moose Ecology

A telemetry tracking and moose health data collection program across the province, with a specific focus on calves and moose recruitment.

Start Exploring

Bat Monitoring and Inventory Project

Bats play ecological roles that are vital to the health of ecosystems, including pest control, pollinating plants and seed dispersal.

Start Exploring

Bat Monitoring and Inventory Project

Bats play ecological roles that are vital to the health of ecosystems, including pest control, pollinating plants and seed dispersal.

Start Exploring

Landscape Scale Wildlife Corridor

The Adirondack – Laurentians ecological corridor boasts a wide variety of habitats that still maintain ecological integrity and are rich in biodiversity.

Start Exploring

Landscape Scale Wildlife Corridor

The Adirondack – Laurentians ecological corridor boasts a wide variety of habitats that still maintain ecological integrity and are rich in biodiversity.

Start Exploring

Forest Tent Caterpillar Project

The interactions between forest tent caterpillars and forest composition as well as the role of predation in outbreak dynamics.

Start Exploring

Forest Tent Caterpillar Project

The interactions between forest tent caterpillars and forest composition as well as the role of predation in outbreak dynamics.

Start Exploring

Dragonflies and Fish Predation

Is fish predation the main determinant of community composition and dynamics for dragonflies?

Start Exploring

Dragonflies and Fish Predation

Is fish predation the main determinant of community composition and dynamics for dragonflies?

Start Exploring

Canada Warbler and Forestry Project

Modelling habitat quality for the Canada Warbler using LiDAR technology on the forest shrub layer.

Start Exploring

Canada Warbler and Forestry Project

Modelling habitat quality for the Canada Warbler using LiDAR technology on the forest shrub layer.

Start Exploring

Mussel Inventory Project

Freshwater mussels are among the most threatened faunal groups globally, with nearly 30% of Canada’s species considered at risk.

Start Exploring

Mussel Inventory Project

Freshwater mussels are among the most threatened faunal groups globally, with nearly 30% of Canada’s species considered at risk.

Start Exploring

Small Mammal Monitoring Project

The objective of this project is to carry out long-term monitoring of the annual densities of voles and forest mice at Kenauk.

Start Exploring

Small Mammal Monitoring Project

The objective of this project is to carry out long-term monitoring of the annual densities of voles and forest mice at Kenauk.

Start Exploring

Tick and Lyme Disease Inventory Project

The objective of this project is to safely sample Ixodes scapularis ticks at Kenauk in order to inform management and prevention of Lyme disease.

Start Exploring

Tick and Lyme Disease Inventory Project

The objective of this project is to safely sample Ixodes scapularis ticks at Kenauk in order to inform management and prevention of Lyme disease.

Start Exploring

Milfoil Inventory Project

Eurasian milfoil is a widespread invasive plant and brings with it a suite of negative impacts for humans and ecosystems.

Start Exploring

Milfoil Inventory Project

Eurasian milfoil is a widespread invasive plant and brings with it a suite of negative impacts for humans and ecosystems.

Start Exploring

Carbon Reserves in Sugar Maples Project

Study the variation of sugar content in the tissues of sugar maple trees and its allocation to growth according to its age and the season.

Start Exploring

Carbon Reserves in Sugar Maples Project

Study the variation of sugar content in the tissues of sugar maple trees and its allocation to growth according to its age and the season.

Start Exploring

Effects of the Beech Tree Invasion Project

In southern Quebec, forests face two threats: the beech invasion of maple groves and the increase of droughts with climate change.

Start Exploring

Effects of the Beech Tree Invasion Project

In southern Quebec, forests face two threats: the beech invasion of maple groves and the increase of droughts with climate change.

Start Exploring

Herbivore Damage Patterns Project

Insect herbivores have long been recognized as important drivers of forest ecosystems by damaging leaves and decreasing forest productivity.

Start Exploring

Herbivore Damage Patterns Project

Insect herbivores have long been recognized as important drivers of forest ecosystems by damaging leaves and decreasing forest productivity.

Start Exploring

Connectivity of Ecosystems Project

The goal is to understand how hydrological connectivity, biodiversity and lotic ecosystems are affected by forestry and climate change.

Start Exploring

Connectivity of Ecosystems Project

The goal is to understand how hydrological connectivity, biodiversity and lotic ecosystems are affected by forestry and climate change.

Start Exploring

Stocking Optimization and Recreational Fisheries Project

The goal of this project is to analyze the relevance of trout thermal biology to the management of fisheries resources at Kenauk.

Start Exploring

Stocking Optimization and Recreational Fisheries Project

The goal of this project is to analyze the relevance of trout thermal biology to the management of fisheries resources at Kenauk.

Start Exploring

Survey of Wild Honeybee Populations Project

It is thought that over time, colonies of non-native honeybees have escaped from apiaries and since become wild in the forests of northeastern North America.

Start Exploring

Survey of Wild Honeybee Populations Project

It is thought that over time, colonies of non-native honeybees have escaped from apiaries and since become wild in the forests of northeastern North America.

Start Exploring

Spongy Moth Outbreaks Project

Following the most recent outbreak of spongy moths, this project is investigating possible factors that may help predict spongy moth reservoirs between outbreaks.

Start Exploring

Spongy Moth Outbreaks Project

Following the most recent outbreak of spongy moths, this project is investigating possible factors that may help predict spongy moth reservoirs between outbreaks.

Start Exploring

Boats

With its myriad of lakes, the Kenauk property is an exceptional location for aquatic surveys and research projects. To accomplish this, the Kenauk Institute offers a wide range of boats and vessels to its researchers and guests, consisting of non-powered crafts (e.g., kayaks, canoes) and powered crafts (electric or gas motor).

Learn More

Boats

With its myriad of lakes, the Kenauk property is an exceptional location for aquatic surveys and research projects. To accomplish this, the Kenauk Institute offers a wide range of boats and vessels to its researchers and guests, consisting of non-powered crafts (e.g., kayaks, canoes) and powered crafts (electric or gas motor).

Learn More